Jesus Is The Life Church

JITLC was planted in the heart of our Founder and Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Paul J. Cartwright many seasons ago, but came to fruition in November of 2016 at Unitarian Universalist Church where we rented space as a part of inception of newly planted church located in Park Forest, Illinois.

We had our first official service on November 13, 2016 at 2:00 pm as Jesus Is the Life Church, we had over one hundred visitors, friends, and family that supported us in this new season of Park Forest as the local church, called to do a new work in Park Forest and surrounding communities. . We continue to grow as time has progressed, but we are even more excited with our future and what GOD has for us as a community of faith and believers. We have three staff ministers and recently hired our Director of Marketing and Outreach that has great plans in store to continue our growth and ensure our longevity in the Village of Park Forest and the surrounding communities in which we have major plans to evangelize until all have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the South Suburban area. We have a great mission and we desire to be a beacon of light in this community that many have been forgotten, but we know that Jesus Christ has not forgotten and neither has Jesus Is the Life Church, as we are a church of Faith, Hope, and Love.

The FAITH that we believe is produced by HOPE and LOVE

F - Focus - meaning attending worship service and discipleship classes on regular basis to broaden one’s biblical knowledge.
A - Action - Using our spiritual gifts to go into the community and spread the GOSPEL until all have heard.
I - Involved - Stay involved in the ministry and making disciples by connecting to other in the community.
T - Teach others about the kingdom of God according to Scriptures - Witnessing and providing discipleship in small groups.
H - Healthy Church - Healthy Person grow spiritually by engaging in bible study and prayer on a regular basis.

I was born in Chicago and grew up on the south side. Shortly after graduation from Morgan Park High School, I was drafted into the United States Army. I served two years in the Army and was honorably discharged. I spent a year in Vietnam in the first Calvary Division in the central highlands. I won a number of medals in my year of combat, including a bronze star for heroism in ground combat action in which I was credited with saving the life of two fellow soldiers during heavy attack from the North Vietnamese Regular Army. After being discharged from the Army, I returned to school to continue my education. I graduated from Chicago State University with B.S. Degree in Education. I taught in Chicago Public Schools for thirty-years.

In addition, while working for the Board of Education I completed my Master’s Degree from Chicago State University in Administration and Supervision. I hold a number teaching certificates including a principal’s certificate. After my calling to preach God’s Word, I attended Wheaton College and received my second Master’s Degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. I pursued my studies further and received a doctorate in theology from International Bible Seminary. Education is very important to me, I went on to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL and pursued a PH. D in educational studies. My dissertation was on Transformational Leadership in the African-American church.I was also a professor at Olivet Nazarene Univerisity in the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies. My expertise was in Biblical Hermeneutics.I have had the opportunity to serve in various pastoral capacity as an assistant pastor at Community Covenant Church and associate pastor at GospelWay Covenant Church with fifteen year plus of experience in pastoral ministry. I am married to a wonderful woman, Reverend Tanya Cartwright and we have five children. Pastor, Rev. Dr.Cartwright can be reached seniorpastor@jitlc.com

Rev. Tanya S. Black-Cartwright was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Early in life she learned that dependence on God is a way of life. God revealed Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” to her before her acceptance to Jesus Christ and having the best assurance which was Salvation. Above all, she is called to be a servant to God’s people.

Rev. Tanya Cartwright is the wife of Rev. Dr. Paul J. Cartwright. Together they have five children, seven grandchildren, one daughter-in-love and one son-in-love. She has served in many capacity within the local church from the Prison Ministry of New Faith Baptist Church International and birthing the Angel Tree Ministry from grassroots this was a christmas program that has serviced over 27,000 children and the summer camp that has serviced over 400 children. She is a teacher/facilitator for Prison Fellowship South Suburban PADS (shelter for the homeless) and currently serve on the Board of Directors. Rev. Cartwright has worked in corporate America for twenty-nine years as part of the Information Technology Management Team. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Roosevelt University and a Masters of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary with major concentrations in Old Testament and Pastoral Care. Rev. Tanya can be contacted at her email Cartwright@jitlc.com

Meet our Director of Evangelism and Outreach, Mickietha Hampton affectionally known as "KeKe". A product of the Park Forest community, and a proud Rich East Rocket graduate. KeKe begin serving her community during her four year role as class president at Rich East high school. After attending Saint Xavier University in Chicago and graduating from the Illinois Center of Broadcasting with honors, KeKe landed an internship with the top media brand in Chicago, IHeartMedia (formerly known as Clear Channel). Keke later accepted a position as a Continuity Coordinator and would ultimately be promoted to Traffic Manager.

In 2013 This young entrepreneur also launched her very own female empowerment concentrated media outlet,www.DivaDenEnt.com. As a traffic manager for seven of Chicago’s premiere radio brands, and the editor in chief of DDE, Keke has a gift for reaching God’s people through creative, innovative methods. Through her years of hard work, KeKe has always answered the call on her life to serve her community. For over three years KeKe served as a mentor and Volunteer leader for south suburban teens through the Christian organization, Younglife. During her time with Younglife, Keke hosted weekly after school clubs, bible study classes, and camp trips. It was during a missions trip to the devastated areas in New Orleans, that Keke decided to turn her focus to the area that she came from, Park Forest, IL. As a member of the Jesus Is The Life family, Keke has made it her task to discover creative and affective ways to convey God’s word to the people within and surrounding her community. Through fun fellowships and essential mission assignments, Keke plans for JITLC to reach the multitudes of people near and far to be a part of the great work that God is doing at Jesus Is The Life Church. In His Continued Service, Mickietha “Keke” Hampton | MHampton@jitlc.com

A dynamic live performer with encouraging lyrics and powerful arrangements is the condensed description of Singer and Songwriter Sherry Amour. She has performed on the morning news show WGN, on a nationwide Coca-Cola sponsored tour, the world renowned UniverSoul Circus, and has sung the National Anthem for the All Star-Chicagoland basketball game and she also has opened up for major recording artists such as Mint Condition at the House of Blues. Being a graduate of Columbia College of Chicago Sherry Amour learned the importance of creating a path of her own to share her music and released her own recording project "Seasons" which is available on iTunes.

Recently she released her latest project "Back To The Music", which is an online innovative tributary music series in which Sherry Amour pays homage to some of music's iconic artists such as Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder. Also, currently Sherry Amour is recording her 2nd recording project, entitled “Mirror,Mirror”, in which she and her supporters successfully fundraised for this album through KickStarter! It is from these projects that Sherry Amour has reflected upon the truth that All things are possible when you choose to walk by Faith and not by sight. Social Media Outlets: www.SherryAmourMusic.com Instagram: @SAmourMusic4 Facebook: @Sherry Amour Music Twitter: @SAmourMusic YouTube.Com/AmourFour

Jamair C. Atkins is a minister, community activist, philanthropist, and organizational consultant with a heart for creating innovative initiatives and developing leadership and programming skills amongst teenagers, millennial, and young professionals. Jamair has always had a deep passion for networking and building the inner man/woman to exemplify their holistic identity in Christ. Devoted to building up and supporting his community. He always lived by, “Be apart of change, that you desire to see.”

Jamair was born on July 30.1988 to James and Charline Atkins at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois reared to the south suburbs of Chicago to grow up in Park Forest, Illinois. Jamair attended Cornerstone Christian School and Rich East High School. He progressed and matriculated to Kishwaukee College to pursue his associates in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology. Jamair has always had a strong business acumen and entrepreneurial edge that has allowed him to be highly respected in every aspect of his personal and professional career. Jamair has always had major involvement in his community serving in many capacities within in the religious and secular sector. In 2007, He was rewarded “Outstanding Citizenship Award” by Rich Township. Jamair has an extensive background in vocational ministry serving in Youth Ministry, Pastoral Care, Programming and Strategic Planning and Church leadership. He has experience in recruiting, professional development, and corporate training in his professional career. Jamair also has an extensive and diverse sales career where he implored his consultative skill set and has been a top performing sales executive year over year.. He has a natural propensity to grow anything that he allowed to grow and develop with his keen sense of ideas and innovative approach to reach people. In 2013, he launched his own consulting firm J.Charles and Company, which focuses on helping young professional network and offering those young professional the opportunity to use their diverse skillset to serve those underserved and underprivileged communities in the Chicagoland area. Jamair is a sought out speaker and currently serves on the Board of Director as Vice Chairman of The Ideal Candidate. He also serves on Board of Governor for National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives. He also serves as the liason officer for Young Life Chicago South Suburban, and currently resides in the south suburbs of Chicago. If you are requesting to have Jamair speak or facilitate a workshop, please email at jamair.atkins@thesuccorproject.com.